Principles of Sociology | Sociology 100
Loyola Marymount University
Instructor: Rachel Washburn, Ph.D.
Meeting Time: TBD
Phone: 310 338-1794
E-mail: rachel.washburn@lmu.edu
Location: TBD
Office Hours: TBD
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This course introduces students to the discipline of sociology, including its history, theories, concepts, and methods. Course readings and lectures situate sociology within the social sciences, highlighting how it is both similar to and different from other social science disciplines. The majority of the course will be structured around an examination of the following core sociological areas of study: culture, social interaction, deviance, social structure, social inequality, race and ethnicity, social institutions (e.g., politics, the economy, education, religion, health care, and the family), and social movements and change.
Coverage of these areas will serve as the basis for introducing core sociological concepts and helping students to understand the unique disciplinary perspective of sociology. Students will also develop the capacity to identify and value the difference between micro- and macro-level analyses. Course readings are drawn from textbooks, sociological journal articles, and monographs. The format of class meetings will vary, but may based on a combination of lectures, group discussions, small group work, films, and student presentations.
By the end of this course, it is expected that students will:
1) Understand the defining characteristics of the social sciences and sociology, in particular.
2) Demonstrate a basic understanding of methods commonly employed in the social sciences.
3) Understand how theories and methods both shape and are shaped by empirical observation.
4) Be familiar with the results of sociological research on a variety of topics.
5) Be able to use sociological theories and concepts to analyze current social issues and problems.
6) Develop and value a “sociological imagination.”
In addition, it is expected that students will build and strengthen their critical thinking and analytical skills through the readings, class discussions, exercises, and written work.
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Books & Online Articles
There are two required books for this course and online readings. The books are available for purchase at the
LMU Bookstore.

Giddens, Anthony, Mitchell Duneier, Richard Appelbaum & Deborah Carr. 2010. Essentials of Sociology (3 rd
Edition). New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
 Furguson, S. 2007. Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology (5 th Edition). New York: McGraw-
Hill.
 Additional REQUIRED readings are available on our course site on LMU Connect.
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1: Reading Summaries
Throughout the semester, you will write FOUR summaries ( 1 page , single-spaced) based on readings from
Weeks 3, 5, 12 and 15.
You may select any reading from these weeks, but you must write separate summaries for each week. Summaries should contain the following: ¾ page summary of the article or chapter you selected and ¼ page critique or your thoughts on the article or chapter. Summaries should be typed and turned in at the beginning of the class when due. Late summaries will be counted for ½ credit. I will NOT accept any summaries via email.
2: Media Analysis Paper
There is one 5-page paper required for this course. This assignment is premised on the idea that popular magazine articles reflect particular perspectives and ideological positions on a range of social issues and problems.
This assignment requires that you use sociological theories and/or concepts to develop your own sociological analysis of how social problems and/or issues are represented in the popular press. You will receive a detailed handout on this assignment during the second week of class.
3: Exams
Two exams will be given during this course. A review sheet will be given out a week before each exam. The first exam is scheduled for XXXX and the second will be held on XXXX.
4: Participation (Read Carefully)
The success of this class depends in part on class participation from students. You are expected to come to class prepared to be an active participant in class discussions about the readings and course themes. I realize that many students are shy and may feel too timid to share their thoughts orally. You may turn in written comments in lieu of oral comments for the same credit. Class participation is essential and is only earned by actively participating in class discussions either orally or in written comments. In order to receive a 10/10 for participation, you will need to participate at least once per week. You will receive a 0/10 for participation if you simply attend class.
Attendance : I do not keep track of attendance. You do not need to email me if you will not be in class; however, it is your responsibility to keep up with class material.
Components of Final Grade Grading Scale
Reading Summaries
Media Analysis Paper
Exam #1
Exam #2
Participation
10%
30%
25%
25%
10%
A A (93-100%) A(90-92%)
B B+ (87-89%) B (83-86%) B- (80-82%)
C C+ (77-79%) C (73-76%) C- (70-72%)
D 60-69%
F 0-59%
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A range : Excellent work in every dimension. Thoughtful engagement with course readings and lively participation in class discussions. Papers are insightful and reflect sophisticated consideration of material as well as free of errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Exams reflect an outstanding grasp of course content.
B range : Good, solid work in all regards. Engagement with course readings and regular participation in class discussions. Papers are clearly written, reflect careful consideration of ideas, and make and support basic arguments. Reflection of solid grasp of course content in exams.
C range: Work that is uneven and demonstrates little synthesis of course concepts. For example, assignments are incomplete and reflect minimal thought. Papers are presented carelessly with obvious mechanical errors. In addition, little participation in class discussion and frequent absences, as well as difficulty demonstrating grasp of course content in exams.
D range: Work is very uneven and inconsistent, demonstrating poor attention to course content and in class discussions. Papers are difficult to read due to lack of organization or failure to follow assignment guidelines.
Inability to demonstrate grasp of material on exams.
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E-mail Communication
At times I will communicate with the entire class using campus email systems, so it is essential that you regularly check your lion.lmu.edu email address or forward your lion account email to your preferred email address.
Academic Honesty
Academic dishonesty will be treated as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences that can range from receiving no credit for assignments/tests to expulsion. It is never permissible to turn in any work that has been copied from another source or copying from a source (e.g., the Internet) without proper attribution. Please consult the LMU Community Standards for more details on LMU’s Honor
Code and Process. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Students with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act who desire assistance or academic accommodations should contact the Disability Support Services on campus (Location: Daum
Hall, Room 224; Telephone: 310-338-4535).
Tentative Nature of Syllabus
If necessary, this syllabus and its contents are subject to revision. Students are responsible for any changes or modifications announced in class or provided in written form.
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1) I expect that all students will treat their classmates with civility and respect.
2) Laptops are NOT permitted in class.
3) Cell phones are NOT permitted in class. I expect that you will either silence or turn off your cell phone prior to coming to class. Texting in class will negatively affect your participation grade.
4) You are responsible for class material. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to contact a classmate for notes. Please do not email me regarding missed class notes.
5) All emails to me MUST contain a salutation and signature. I will delete and not respond to emails without these basic elements.
Important Dates
Date
Reading Summary #1 Due
Date
Date
Reading Summary #2 Due
Exam #1
Date
Date
Date
Date
Date
Paper Topic Due
Reading Summary #3 Due
Paper Due
Reading Summary #4 Due
Exam #2
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Week One ~ Introduction to the Course & Taking Stock of U.S. Society
Date Introductions &
Course Orientation
 No Reading
Date U.S. Society &
Values
 Wright, Erik Olin and Joel Rogers. 2011. American Society: How It
Really Works . New York: W.W. Norton. Prologue Online
Date U.S. Society &
Values
 Wright, Erik Olin and Joel Rogers. 2011. American Society: How It
Really Works . New York: W.W. Norton. Ch. 2 Online
Week Two ~ The Social Sciences & the Sociological Lens
Date The Social Sciences
& Sociology
 Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 1-12
Date The Social Sciences
& Sociology
 Mapping the Social Landscape (5 th Edition): Mills, C. Wright, The
Promise, Ch. 1 (pages 1-7)
Date Social Theory  Jones, Pip, Liz Bradbury, and Shaun LeBoutillier. 2011. Introducing
Social Theory . Polity. Pages 1-10. Online
Week Three ~ Social Theory
Date Social Theory
Date Social Theory:
Conflict
Perspectives
 Jones, Pip, Liz Bradbury, and Shaun LeBoutillier. 2011. Introducing
Social Theory . Polity. Pages 11-27. Online
 Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 13-22.
 Mapping the Social Landscape : Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels,
Manifesto of the Communist Party, Ch. 41 (pages 473-478).
Date Social Theory:
Symbolic
Interactionism &
Foucault
 Herman, Nancy, J. & Reynolds, Larry T., 1995. Symbolic
Interaction: An Introduction to Social Psychology . Dix Hills, NY:
General Hall, Inc. (Introduction) Online
 Jones, Pip, Liz Bradbury, and Shaun LeBoutillier. 2011. Introducing
Social Theory . Polity. Pages 123-130. Online
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Week Four ~ Research Methods & Social Interaction
Date Social Research
Methods

Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 23-37
Date Social Research
Methods
 Mapping the Social Landscape : Schwalbe, Michael. Finding Out
How the Social World Works , Ch. 4 (pages 32-42).
Date Social Interaction  Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 94-105.
Week Five ~ Social Interaction & Socialization
Date Social Interaction
& the Self
 Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 105-115
 Cooley, Charles H., 1922/1995. “The Looking-Glass Self,” in Nancy
J. Herman and Larry T. Reynolds (eds.), Symbolic Interaction: An
Introduction to Social Psychology . Dix Hills, NY: General Hall, Inc.
Online
Date Socialization
Date Socialization
Week Six ~ Culture
Date Culture
 Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 68-79.
 Mapping the Social Landscape
Learning to Strip , Ch. 13
(5 th Edition): Lewis, Jacqueline,
(pages 127-143).
 Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 38-56.
 Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 57-67. Date Culture
Date Exam #1  No Reading
Week Seven ~ Deviance, Social Control & Social Structure
Date Deviance  Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 144-158.
Date
Date
Abnormality and
Medicine
Social Structure
 Zola, Irving. 1972. “Medicine as and Institution of Social Control.”
The Sociological Review , 20(4): 487-504. Online
 Kendall, Diana. 2010. Sociology in Our Times (7 th Edition): Social
Structure and Interaction in Everyday Life , Online
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Week Eight ~ Social Stratification & the Social Reproduction of Inequality
Date Stratification

Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 178-201.
Date Stratification

Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 201-211.
 Mapping the Social Landscape (5 th Edition): Ehrenreich, Barbara,
Nickel-And-Dimed , Ch. 26 (pages 292-305).
Date Social & Cultural
Capital
 McNamee, Stephen and Robert Miller. 2009. The Meritocracy Myth .
Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. Ch. 4 Online
No Class (Professor
Away)
 Mapping the Social Landscape (5 th Edition): Lareau, Annette,
Indvisible Inequality: Social Class and Childrearing in Black Families and White Families , Ch. 55 (pages 630-649).
Week Nine ~ Social Inequality: Gender
Date  Essentials (3 rd Edition): Ch. 9 (all pages)
Date Gender &
Sexuality

Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 420-428 (note: these pages are part of
Ch. 14)
Date Gender  Mapping the Social Landscape (5 th Edition): Risman, Barbara,
Gender as Structure , Ch. 27 (pages 306-315)
 Mapping the Social Landscape (5 th Edition): Loe, Meika, Working at
Bazooms, Ch. 30 (pages 342-359)
Week Ten ~ Social Inequality: Race & Ethnicity
Date Race and Ethnicity  Snipp, C. Matthew. 2010. “Defining Race and Ethnicity: The
Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the Census,” in Hazel Marcus and Paula Moya (Eds.) Doing Race: 21 Essays for the 21 st Century . New
York: W.W. Norton. Online
Date Race and Ethnicity

Essentials (3 rd Edition): page 268-291.
 Western, Bruce and Becky Pettit. 2002/2008. “Beyond Crime and
Punishment: Prisons and Inequality,” in Jeff Goodwin and James
Jasper (Eds.) The Contexts Reader . New York: W.W. Norton. Online
Date Race and Ethnicity  Essentials (3 rd Edition): page 291-299.
 Wise, Tim. 2009. “On White Pride, Reverse Racism, and Other
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Delusions,” in Michael Kimmel and Abby Ferber (Eds.), Privilege: A
Reader (2 nd Edition). Boulder: Westview Press. Online
 Peart, Nichoals. “Why Is the N.Y.P.D. After Me?” The New York
Times (Sunday, 12/18/11, SR6). Handout
Week Eleven ~ Social Institutions: Politics & Economic Life
Date Politics &
Economic Life
 Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 360-379.
Date Labor Unions  Wright, Erik Olin and Joel Rogers. 2011. American Society: How It
Really Works . New York: W.W. Norton. Ch. 21. Online
Date Politics & the
Economy

Reich, Robert. 2007. Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business,
Democracy, and Everyday Life . Vintage: New York. Introduction &
Ch. 6. Online
Week Twelve ~ Social Institutions: The Family
Date The Family  Essentials (3 rd Edition): Ch. 11 (all pages)
Paper Due!
Date Holiday  No Reading
Week Thirteen ~ Social Institutions: Education
Date Education

Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 330-343
Date Education

McNamee, Stephen and Robert Miller. 2009. The Meritocracy Myth .
Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. Ch. 5 Online
Date Education  Mapping the Social Landscape (5 th Edition): Ferguson, Ann Arnett,
Bad Boys , Ch. 52 (pages 595-604).
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Week Fourteen ~ Social Institutions: Health and Health Care
Date Health & Society

Essentials (3 rd Edition): pages 400-420.
Date The U.S. Health
Care System

Weitz, Rose. 2010. The Sociology of Health, Illness, and Health Care: A
Critical Approach. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage. Ch. 8. Online
Date Health Inequalities  Marmot, Michael G. 2006. “Status Syndrome: A Challenge to
Medicine,” JAMA , 295(11): 1304-1307. Online
Week Fifteen ~ Health Inequalities, Prospects for Change & Course Review
Date Health Inequalities  Williams, D. R. and Jackson, P.B. 2005. “Social Sources of Racial
Disparities in Health,” Health Affairs , v24(2): 325-334. Online
Date Ending Poverty In the U.S.
Course Review
 Wright, Erik Olin and Joel Rogers. 2011.
Really Works
 No Reading
American Society: How It
. New York: W.W. Norton. Ch. 13. Online
Date
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